The Best Advice for Your Kids in One Sentence

“Don’t do anything... “

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No matter where, no matter when. The best advice you can give your kids is this:

“Don’t do anything you can’t come back from.”

It should be written on the mirror in the bathroom.
On the refrigerator door.
In a frame beside the bed.
As a screensaver on the laptop.
On the bathroom stalls at school.
Engraved on a keychain. (I got my boys a keychain that says, “Don’t do stupid sh*t.” It’s the next best thing. 😎)
On their phone as wallpaper.
At every convenience store.
On their video games.
On their backpack.

And, say it to them when they come home and when they leave!

“Don’t do anything you can’t come back from.”

My husband says this to our kids a lot. Not because they’re bad kids. They’re actually really good kids, and we’re proud of them.

Nevertheless, like all kids in their youth, they do things rather than think about doing things. (It’s that whole pre-frontal cortex thing. Check out what the says.)

We could give our kids a list of specific do’s and don’ts:

Don’t drink, party, smoke, have unprotected sex, drive fast, write stupid posts that make you look like an idiot… And we do.

But, let’s face it, they tune us out. They even admit as much.

However, if we (parents) can get them to stop long enough to think about the consequences of what they’re about to do…they have a moment to pivot.

Pivot! PIVOOOOT! (Using my best Ross voice here.)

Pivoting is important.

There is no phrase that’s going to keep your kids from doing stupid things. But these eight words might remind them that thought needs to come before action.

And when you think about it, using those words is an action (ha! Thought before action there… 😎) on our part that makes a lot of sense.

I know…that still leaves a lot of problems for us as parents.

Our particular problem now is convincing our kids they really can’t “come back” from everything.

When Alan thinks of a catchy phrase for that, I’ll let you know. So stay tuned.☺️

Meanwhile, good luck, and check out the other stories on my blog!

About Me — Emily B. Mingledorff

The Scenic Route